VetTix, VA team up in official partnership

When over 400,000 Veterans and service members send pictures and thank you notes for the amazing experiences and life-long memories provided by a non-profit organization—free of charge, the impact is unquestionable. Photos of smiling families, happy couples, and close friends embracing, with a stadium or stage in the background, turn the words of a mission statement into reality. Veterans Ticket Foundation, or VetTix, makes this happen every day.

VetTix provides free tickets to Veterans and service members with the aim of reducing stress, strengthening family bonds, building life-long memories and encouraging connections with local communities. How it works: First, VetTix secures tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, educational and family activities. Then, Veterans sign up online, where their service is verified. Finally, members, or ‘VetTixers,’ request tickets to events that interest them, pay a small delivery fee and receive their free tickets.

“When our Veterans go to an event for free, we want them to enjoy, relax, spend precious time with their families, and feel a part of American life,” said VetTix CEO Mike Focareto. “That’s what we are committed to creating every day. And we’re excited to partner with VA to bring positive experiences to more, not only Veterans, but their families as well.”

VA saw the incredible work VetTix is doing for Veterans across the country and signed a partnership between the two organizations, focused on improving Veterans lives. Officially called a Memorandum of Understanding, the agreement is centered in engaging Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors to increase awareness of the resources available in both organizations. VA promises to give Veterans information on the VetTix program through social media, local facilities and email outreach campaigns, and VetTix promises to send VA information on who they are serving and the impact, plus, outreach to their member population on VA programs and services. It’s a win-win for both organizations.

“VA is thrilled to move forward on this official agreement with VetTix,” said Dr. Lynda Davis, Chief of VA’s Veteran experience office. “We’ve seen and heard the feedback and fruits of their labors and are excited to see what we can do together in continuing to serve our Veterans and their families. We are constantly looking for resources inside and outside of VA that improve the Veteran experience and quality of life, and VetTix feels like a perfect fit.”

‘Give Something to Those Who Gave’

VetTix is a national non-profit, non-governmental 501c(3) tax-exempt organization reporting a 95% charity rate, meaning 95 cents out of every dollar they receive goes back to the Veterans and military members they serve. They recently announced surpassing the 7 million tickets given mark.

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Author

Steven Clipp

Steve Clipp joined VA in 2017 with the White House/VA Hotline and is currently on detail as a communications specialist with the Veteran Experience Office. Steve, a Navy Veteran, served as an electronics technician in Fighter Squadron 31 (VF 31-F/14s) on-board the USS Abraham Lincoln. Using the GI Bill, he graduated from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

Comments

I never accepted a free ticket or a free meal based on my service and never will. I do accept the Comp & Pen I receive from my fellow-Americans monthly but the idea of showing up with my hand out for free stuff is otherwise abhorrent to me.

For a long time, I had the same thoughts as Mr Savard I changed my point of view after a discussion with a person that donates tickets to events. His thoughts were veterans, for the most part, veterans do not ask or accept free hand out based their status as a veteran. He then submitted he is offering gifts as a token of his appreciation. He then asked if I accept samples if offered at Costco? He said the I have been offered the samples based upon my membership in Costco as a qualification to for given the food sample. His idea is he does not offer a handout nor do veterans ask for one. He also suggested the donor may have an attitude of his appreciation is not good enough to be accepted.. For thought

It is definitely not a scam, I was suspicious at first but went with a friend to a NBA basketball game, not knowing at the time it was thanks to vet tix. Since then I’ve started using the tickets to make my daughter’s dreams of seeing some of her favorite bands a reality. Thank you vet tix

I felt the same way at first, especially when going through the verification process. Proof of Service is required, so it’s either a scan of your DD214 or current orders or maybe LES (?). Not sure, as I joined after Retirement, but they do stress to block out your SSN and that they delete your form after verification. I appreciate and respect the level of vetting, so as to ensure that TRUE Vets & their Families benefit from what this great Organization tries to do. it is completely legit. I have been to many Nationals games, a few soccer matches, a pre-season Ravens game, concerts & festivals. Just a couple of Vets that started something great back in 2008 (?). Another bonus is that you are usually sitting in a section that is all VetTix recipients, so the Military Comradery & networking can continue (or some Service Rivalry drinking!). I donate $ & tix when able to: “Pay it Forward”. – A/ATW

I tried to enroll and had difficulty. So, I donated in hopes of getting access to a human I could speak with. I really want to enroll, but continually get rebuffed. PLEASE have someone contact me, Thanks

I had the same problem, enroll, wait to get verified and nothing happens. Try to sign back in again to restart the process and site claims it doesn’t recognize the sign in. Endless cycle and nothing. Gave up.

Just go to vettix.org and sign up. It’s easy and can be done in minutes! I’ve been using Vet Tix for over two years and have gone to dozens of great concerts, sports events, and other things like the Georgia Renaissance Festival, Comicon, etc for FREE! They do charge a small service charge, but it’s very small compared to the value of the tickets! For example, I got four tickets on the 30 yd line at last year’s Peach Bowl at M ercedes Benz Stadium for only $14.97 – that’s not for each ticket, but all four! I LOVE Vet Tix!

It’s just another scam to screw over vet’s who have already been screwed over. Don’t give up your personal info. You’ll never live it down with constant barrage of emails and unwarranted text messages. Trust me

I would like to receive free tickets to the event mentioned. I am a vet and would like to know how to join VetTix. I am on SSDI and income is limited so this would help greatly with getting out to see other people.

I love the opportunities provided by VetTix. However I don’t always take pictures of me at the event. When I try to provide a thank you note on the VetTix site it doesn’t allow my comment to post without pictures.

How do I sign up? I am handicapped and used to go to sporting events but now that I need a scooter to get around I’m reluctant because of the stairs at sporting events. I know that some venues have handicap access but do all of yours and do your tickets have handicap access. Thank you

I am 100 percent disability Vietnam veteran,it is awesome what you guys are doing.You having giving me courage,to fight and right to what I gave 40 months of my life serving in Nam.VA is still trying to not complete or give me what is due to me.

Received a box seat, totally isolated from the good seats regarding this event. Given the opportunity to pay for expensive drinks, etc. Very likely that whoever donated the box seats got a nice tax write-off at my displeasure. When I complained, I was removed from vetfix.

100% service connected Army retired Abn, SF looking to join and if possible get information on how to get tickets ….
There is an event coming up at …. The palace theater in Wisconsin dells in Wisconsin on the 27th of August ….
My wife’s birthday …. How could I get tickets through tix vet ? …. Thanks for your time .. Bruce

We are so Thankful to the sponsors that donate to make it happen so many of us are Thankful our childreen really appreciate it just to see the big smile Thank you Sponser , Thank you Vett for helping us God Bless America

Since joining my husband and I have attended 4 concerts now! With the past year being financially difficult, it has been a nice break from reality to be able to attend a show! We even took our 4 year old to his first concert. We are Blessed. Thanks Vet Tix!

Your statement is so untrue. VetTix requires that if you win tickets you must attend or be suspended briefly. Veterans can claim more “coins” by sending a pic of themselves at an event but in no way are they required. If you send a pic of yourself wearing VetTix gear, you win even more coins to bid on future events. Shame on you for spreading this falsehood.

Not fact… they don’t require participant to say thank you… but, if you want to say thank you they require a picture…

and if your request is flagged for security reasons and you want to continue with getting the tickets you agree to submit a thank you with a photo. Failure of agree flag clearing requirements will get you suspended some days

These rules have adapted over time and the reason is people taking ticket and not using them as intended. Bad people mess stuff up for ALL of us.

Being a disabled veteran i find it hard to go to out amongst the public. With bet Tix I know I will be around my fellow service members and I give a feeling of security.
Being on a fixed disability income it also affords me a chance to go to events that I would otherwise never be able to attend. Every time I receive a lottery winning bid I add a donation to the charitable funds to show my appreciation. Vet Tix is the best veterans participation program that has ever existed.

My family and I received tickets for the Heart concert in Maryland Heights, Missouri and we had a great time. We visited with other veterans seated next to us and it was awesome. Glad to see the VA supporting them. Semper Fi!

Fantastic service, we recently joined vettix as my husband is army veteran and the amount of donated tickets for events in our area is simply amazing. So very blessed this service exists, doing our first ball game from vettix in August, very exciting stuff. Great organization to support